greenfield



(No Model.) 2 SheetS-Sheet-l.

11. T. GREENPIELD.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

No. 278,535. I Patented May 29,1883.

N. PETERS. PholmLfihngraplwr.Washmgmn. u. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

B. T. GREENF IELD.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Patented May 29,1883.

N. PETERS. PhohrLflhugraphcr. Washington. D. c.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN T. GREENFIELD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SIGMUND BERGMANN, OF SAME PLACE.

"SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,535, dated May 29, 1883. d

- Applicationfiled June 8, 82. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN T.'GREENFIELD, of New York, in the county and Stateof New York, have invented a certain new and useful I 10 building, of branch wires extending from the same at about the same point, and cut-ofi' devices, arranged and adapted for operation as hereinafter described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is z 5 a diagram of a floor in a building wherein are laid wires according to my improvement. Fig. 2 is a top view of a block wherein branch wires extend from the main wires and the cutoffs are arranged. Fig. 3 is a side view of an iron box containing the block. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the box. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of one of the cut-offs, and Fig. 6 is atop view thereof.

Similar letters of reference designate corre- 2 sponding parts in all the figures.

' A designates two main wires extending along a floor, B, of a house or other building. They may he of copper, and are severally covered with an insulating material surrounded with a lead casing. As shown, they extend through an iron pipe, 0.

D designates a wooden block, wherein a number of branch wires, E, extend from the main wires A to different lamps L in rooms and parts of rooms. D designates another block, wherein other wires, E, extend from the main wires A to lamps L in other rooms and parts thereof. D designates still another block,

wherein other branch wires, E extend from 40 the main wires 'A to lamps L in other rooms and parts of the same. Thebranch wires may be of copper covered with insulating material and incased in lead. These blocks DD D are severally arranged in iron boxes F, located 4 in cavities in the floor, provided with covers which may be readily removed to afford convenient access to the blocks. The covers of the boxes F may be lifted off when access to the blocks is desired.

' To each of the blocks D D D are affixed two pairs of bars, G G, of brass or any other conductive material, one of each pair being connected by a transverse extension, G to each of the main wires A. One of each pair of the branch wires is connected to a bar, G, 5 of a pair of the bars G G, and the other of the pair of branch wires is connected to the other bar, G, of that pair. Thebranch wires which are connected to the bars G extend to and from cut-offs H. These cut-offs consist of blocks having cavities a, to the bottom of which are affixed metal plates 1), to which one end of the branch wires which extend to and from the cut-offs is connected. In the cavities a are in ternallyscrew-threaded metal sockets c, which 6 5 are insulated from the metal plates 1). The ends of the branch wires leading from the cutoffs are connected by solder to the upper part of the sockets c. i

d designates wooden plugs, having applied to the end metal plates 6 and to the exterior sheet-metalringsf, which are externally screwthreaded. Wires h lead from the plates eand are connected by solder to the upperv part of the rings f. These wires are made of a readilyfusible metal or alloy, preferably of an alloy composed of about sixty parts, by weight, of tin and about forty parts, by weight, of lead. When the plugs d are inserted in the sockets c, the plates 6 make contact with the metal 8c plates b in the bottom of the cavities.

The branch wires E are connected to plates i i. A wire, j, connects the plate i with the plate I), and a wire, j, connects the ringfto the plate 2'. The branch wires'extend from the blocks D D D through semicircular notches in the adjacent edges of the boxes F and their covers. They pass through washers g, ofinsulatingin aterial, which fit in the notches and have flanges lapping over the exterior and the interior. The wires, being covered with metal,are damp-proof and water-proof hence they will not sustain injury during the con struction of the building in which they are laid, or if subjected to water. It will be seen that 5 a number of branch wires extend. from the main wires at about the same point. A second lamp, L may be arranged on one pair of branch wires. If the branch wires of any pair should get crossed or otherwise short-circnited, xoo

D, or D a box, F, the washers g, and the cutoffs H, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the main wires A, of the bars G G, the branch wires E, E, or [5 E the blocks D, D, 01' D and the cut-offs H, substantially as specified.

E. T. GREENFIELD.

Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, JAMES R. BOWEN.

secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the main wires A, of the branch wires E, E, or E the blocks D 

